Penstemon (Beardtongue)
Penstemon digitalis
Family Plantaginaceae
Penstemon thrives on the lean, dry, sunny ground that starves fussier perennials — and pays for the privilege with summer spikes of tubular flowers that hummingbirds and bees line up for, often held above foliage flushed a deep burgundy that flatters everything nearby.
This is a native built for the xeriscape and the unwatered border: in full sun on sharp drainage it runs itself, standing two to three feet with no staking, and feeding birds later in the season. Where the hose doesn't reach, let beardtongue hold the line.
Full Sun
Low water
Moderate growth
Native to North America
Attracts hummingbirds
Attracts bees
From the print shop
Growing penstemon (beardtongue)? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries penstemon (beardtongue) — Penstemon digitalis, print Nº 358, “Penstemon (Beardtongue).”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it fruit where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what penstemon (beardtongue) actually needs.
Hardy inZones 3-8Penstemon (Beardtongue) · Common problems
Common penstemon (beardtongue) problems
Pests
1 problem on file
- Almost none
Diseases
1 problem on file
- Root/Crown Rot in wet soil (the #1 killer)
Penstemon (Beardtongue) · Growing & propagation
Growing penstemon (beardtongue)
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Low
Drought-tough; SHARP drainage essential
Soil- Lean, gritty, well-drained
Wet clay is fatal · pH 6.0 - 7.5
Fertilizer- None
Pruning- After bloom
Deadhead for tidiness; leave some seed for self-sowing and birds. Short-lived in rich/wet soil, long-lived in lean/dry.
Spacing- 15-18 in
How to plant & propagate penstemon (beardtongue)
- Propagate
- Division or seed
Penstemon (Beardtongue) · Seasonal care & spray guidance
The penstemon (beardtongue) growing playbook
When to spray penstemon (beardtongue)
Growing season. Drainage is everything — never mulch heavily over the crown.
Penstemon (Beardtongue) · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Penstemon (Beardtongue) · Yearly calendar
The penstemon (beardtongue) year, month by month
Jan
No calendar activity is listed for this month.
BloomBloomJune
What each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
Penstemon (Beardtongue) · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Penstemon digitalis
Penstemon (Beardtongue) in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer perennial
- Nectary/insectary
Attracts- Hummingbirds, Bees, Birds
Habitat- Dry/rocky
Moisture- Upland / dry
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
- Origin
- Native to North America
What penstemon (beardtongue) is grown for
✓ Commonly eaten
Use- Native borders
- Use
- Xeriscapes
- Use
- Pollinators
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Penstemon (Beardtongue) · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a penstemon (beardtongue) variety
'Husker Red' (burgundy foliage, white flowers — native); 'Dark Towers'; 'Blackbeard'; Western species for xeriscapes
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
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Penstemon (Beardtongue)
Penstemon digitalis
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Penstemon digitalis
- Plant family
- Plantaginaceae
- Growth habit
- Perennial
- Origin
- Native to North America
- USDA plant symbol
- PEDI
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
for Penstemon (Beardtongue)
Research from these sources
Publisher marks identify sources, not sponsorship or endorsement.
Questions
Penstemon (Beardtongue) questions, answered straight.
Is penstemon (beardtongue) safe for kids and pets?
Penstemon (Beardtongue) is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate penstemon (beardtongue)?
Division or seed.
Elsewhere
Where penstemon (beardtongue) sits in the library.
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Peony
Daylily